Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-02-25
THE STATE OF OREGON.
A 6eoA Place to Keep Away from
Report Of One who Has Been There.

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A 6eo1 Place to Keep Away from
Report Of One who Has Been There.
G. <. Hammer, who has just re-
turned from Oregon, does not give a
favorable report of that State. In
fact, he says that he would not give
Alturas county for the whole of Ore
gon. His wife went to visit her
father, and fell i'll, and he went after
her. When he reached Salem he
was out of money, and he went to
work after doing some tall rustling
and using all the influence he could
muster to get job. He was one OF
the lucky few, and got employment
in brickyard. He WAS foreman aud
had entire charge; hut his paw was
only $50 month, and it took him a
year to earn money enough to get
back. The white men under him
got $3.50 per day, the Chinese 81 per
day. All boarded themselves. These
were about top prices, as throughout
Oregon wages ate still lower. Farm
hands only get $l5 to $50 per month
and board, and even at these prices
Chinese are generally preferred. The
Webfeet are great lovers of Chinese.
The iails at Salem and elsewhere
are full Of able bodied, decent young
men, who spent their all to get to
Oregon, only to find that they could
not get work. They tramp about
from place to place, and finally drift
to the jaiIs to ct hoard and lodging
There is abs ,lutely no demand for
farm produce, and although fine tim.
Der land can be taken up in the Will
lamette valley, it remains unclaimed,
because it would take man life
time to clear it and then he could
hardly make living off of it. The
ranchers supply the railways with
fine wo ID, cut in two-foot lengths, for
$1.75 full cord. At least 40 settlers
told him they C; IN to the valley with
between $1,000 and $4,000, and took
up land. Their money would last
just about two years, and then they
: could not sell enough produce to keer
them in boots, shoes, and clothing
Hundreds of families live from hanC
, to mouth. 1t is rs bad as in larg,
= cities. Several young men told him
/ they would come out to Camas Prairi,
in the spring, and take up land, ever
though they might have to walk.
They is no wild grass in al! the vii
' la1nette valley, and when the car o
? Oregon products was sent East, abou
6 year ago, it was stated that tn
committee had travelled over 500
u miles to get 100 pounds of grass.
Salem is a dilapilated old towr
+ and the sidewalk are so full of hole
d that it is positively dangerous to g
e around after nigh,fall. Many house
IS are covered with moss, and rickety
looking. The town has poverty
r. stricken population Of about 1000.
d Portland is. a pretty enough city
and there is some building going or
but there are 10 applicants for ever
mans job. Some 5000 Chinese oe
;. cupy the best part of the town.
Mr.. Hammer was around the Leg
d islature good deal; but he has al
t tended several small country lyceum
% in the East that beat that augu:
lie body all to pieces, in every trait tn,
,e one would expect. In fact, he say
ly the Oregon Legislators are the bigge
20 lot of chnmps he ever saw.
III Volumes might be written to sho
I; the poverty aud inertness of the pc
re pie of Oregon, and the execrablene
OF the climate; but Mr.. Hammer col
IA tents himself with earnestly advisin
.,s everybody to keep away from there.